The best road cycling routes around São Bento

Symbolism: According to its authors, the monument symbolizes the Holy Trinity, with the obelisk divided into three columns that join at the top. The figures at the base represent pilgrims with their belongings, in an attitude of devotion. Inauguration: The work was inaugurated on October 27, 1990, and blessed by D. Serafim de Sousa Ferreira e Silva. Strategic Location: The roundabout serves as a main gateway to the city and directs visitors to the main roads leading to the Sanctuary of Fatima, such as Avenida D. José Alves Correia da Silva, Rua Jacinta Marto and Avenida Beato Nuno.

The monument in the image is the Pilgrim Monument, located at the Pilgrims' Roundabout (also known as the North Roundabout) in Fátima, Portugal. This is the first major monument that most pilgrims coming from the A1, Leiria and Batalha motorways see upon entering the city, visually marking their arrival at their destination of faith.

The house where José Saramago was born is located in the village of Azinhaga, in the municipality of Golegã, district of Santarém, Portugal. The Azinhaga House Location: The house is located on Rua da Igreja, in Azinhaga, a typical village in Ribatejo, known for its landscape of fertile fields and its proximity to the Tagus River. Foundation: Currently, the childhood home houses the José Saramago Foundation Delegation in Azinhaga, a space of memory that recreates the environment of the writer's childhood and houses a library and an auditorium. Visits: The place is open to visitors who wish to learn about the roots of the only Nobel Prize winner in Literature in the Portuguese language. The Lanzarote House Although he was born in Azinhaga, the writer's most emblematic residence is "The House" in Tías, on the island of Lanzarote, Spain. It was there that he lived for much of his adult life, and where his vast personal library is located; today it functions as the José Saramago House-Museum and is open to the public.

Pombalinho is a town in the district of Santarém, Portugal, known for being frequently affected by floods. This reputation is due to its strategic location on the right bank of the Tagus River and near the Alviela stream, in a floodplain area. Why do floods occur? Proximity to the Tagus River: The main cause of the floods is the town's location near the Tagus Riverbed. During rainy winters, the river overflows and floods the surrounding areas, which are alluvial plains. Increased flow rates: Heavy rainfall in Portugal, along with discharges from upstream Spanish dams, cause a significant increase in water levels and flow rates of the Tagus, resulting in floods in the Lower Tagus. Affected communication routes: Floods frequently submerge local and national roads, such as the EN 365 at Ponte do Alviela, temporarily isolating Reguengo do Alviela and other neighboring towns. Impact and Local Resilience Historical Events: Pombalinho has a history of major floods, with notable events recorded in 1964 and 1979. Adaptation of Residents: Local residents accept, to some extent, these periodic floods as part of life in the region, although abnormally high floods cause damage and concern. Alert and Prevention: Civil protection authorities issue warnings to the population during critical periods, asking them to take the necessary actions to protect themselves, their families, and property.

Salt is extracted from shallow, concrete or stone pans of varying sizes, where saltwater drawn from a well is conveyed through ditches. Currently, the water is pumped by a motor and distributed according to a system that is generally accepted and respected (not always) by all the owners. Drainpipes, threshing floors, and wooden salt storage houses complete the complex known as the Rio Maior Salt Pans. According to technicians, a large and deep rock salt mine, traversed by an underground stream that feeds a well, makes the extracted water salty, seven times saltier than seawater. The salt is obtained from its exposure to the sun and wind, and the resulting evaporation of the water. This salt is deposited at the bottom of the pans, which are then piled up in pyramid-shaped heaps to dry until harvest. The process is rudimentary and similar to that used in seaside salt mines. The only difference is the picturesque valley that surrounds them, the well, the unique style of the sailors (as the men who work in the salt mines are known), the wooden houses and the country air that you breathe.

In the village of Casais Robustas, along the road to Fatima, there's a very nice café filled with trophies from the pilgrims—flags, shirts, and other items. The staff is very friendly to the pilgrims.

The Golegã National Horse Fair, also known as the São Martinho Fair, is an event with historical roots dating back to 1571, when it was established as an annual fair. Over the centuries, the fair has evolved and established itself as an important center for the exhibition and sale of the Lusitano horse, attracting breeders, riders and enthusiasts from all over the country and abroad.

Torre de Dom Manuel of 1520